newbie advice

[SwampYankee]

OK,
brand newbie, I have completed the tutorials and messed around a bit. I've run into a couple of problems.
I've built a number of space ships on earth, now, earth says 'no shipyard'. Where did it go?
In a small universe with 5 other races, how many planets can I expect to colonize?
How did that other race colonize Mars when I can't?
I click on an other races palnet and try to speak to them and they don't have time. I have trade, how do I establish trade routes? I see other races have them.

thanks

 

[kuukkeli]

I've built a number of space ships on earth, now, earth says 'no shipyard'. Where did it go?

Most probably you accidentally built something over it.

In a small universe with 5 other races, how many planets can I expect to colonize?

I can't really say any numbers as it depends on many factors. Small galaxy with 5 other races is quite crowded though so the neighbors will be close. Like Civilization 4 the rate of colonization is pretty much decided by your economy. In Dark Avatar the colonization is slower than it was in vanilla - economy is harder and about half of the planets require special techs to colonize.

How did that other race colonize Mars when I can't?

You can't how? Mars (and other similar planets) are no different from any other. Usually there's no rush to colonize Mars as it's rather easy to influence it away from AI (a small planet in the middle of your region). In vanilla I almost never colonized Mars but in Dark Alliance it's somewhat more likely.

I click on an other races palnet and try to speak to them and they don't have time.

In Dark Avatar (I'm quite sure this wasn't the case in vanilla) you have to wait some time (don't remember how long) after a trade before other race will see you again. Alliance with the other race will shorten that time considerably.

I have trade, how do I establish trade routes? I see other races have them.

Build freighters and fly to other races planets with them.

 

[Ambidexter]

I click on an other races palnet and try to speak to them and they don't have time.

After you talk to another race, they won't talk to you again for three months.